Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-01-06
CHAPTER. FIJI.


few days later. For the last fortnight
Florence has been making strenuous
efforts to leave the castle, but Dora
would not hear of their departure, and
Florence, feeling it will be selfish Of
her to cut short DOra'S happy hours
with her supposed lover, signs, and
gives in. and sacrifices her own wishes
on the altar Of friendship.
1t is five O'Clock, and all the men,
gun in hand, have been out since early
dawn. Now they are coming strag
Cling home. in one or tWOS. Amongst
the first to return are Sir Adrian and
his cousin Arthur DynecOurt, who,
having met accidentally about a mile
from home, have trudged the remand
er Of the way together.
On the previous night at dinner, Miss
Delmaine had spoken Of a small gold
bangle, a favorite Of hers, she was
greatly in the habit Of wearing. She
said she had lost it-When or where she
could not tell; and she expressed her
self as being very grieyed for its loss,
and had laughingly declared she would
give any reward claimed by any one
who should restore it to her. Two or
three men had, On the instant, pledged
themselves to devote their lives to the
search; but Adrian had said nothing.
Nevertheless, the bangle and reward
had remained in his mind all that
night and all to-day. Now he can not
refrain from speaking about it to the
man he considers his rival.
odd thing about Miss Delmaine's
bangle" he remarks carelessly.
very odd. [ dare say her maid has
put it somewhere and forgotten it."
Hardly. One would not put brace
let anywhere but in a jeWel-case or in
a special drawer. She must have
dropped it somewhere"
Il dare say; those Indian bangles are
very liable to be rubbed off the wrist"
But where? | have had the place
searched high and low, and still no It'd
ings of it can be found"
"There may have been since we left
home this morning"
just at this moment they come with
in full view of the Old tower, and it's
strange rounded ivy-grown walls, and
the little narrow holes in the sides they
show at it's highest point that indicate
the position Of the haunted chamber.
What is there at this moment in
mere glimpse of this old tower to make
Arthur Dynecourt grow pale and to
start so strangely? His eyes grow
brighter, his lips tighten and grow
hard.
DO you remember" he says, turning
to his cousin with all the air of one to
whom q sudden inspiration has come,
"that day when we visited the haunted
chamber? Miss Delmaine accompanied
us, did she nOt?"
"Yes"-looking at him expectantly.
Gould she have dropped it there?"
asks Arthur lightly. F:By Joye, it
would be odd if she had-eh? Uncanny
sort Of place to drop ones trinkets."
at is strange [ didn't think Of it be-
FORE" responds Adrian, evidently
struck by the suggestion. why, it
must have been just about that time
when she lost it. The more [ think of
it the more convinced [ feel that it
must be there"
Nonsense, my dear fellow; don't
highly improbable. [ should say that
she dropped it anywhere else in the
WcE4d."
We'll, I'll go and see, at all events"
declares Adrian, uncOnVinced.
1t is some lingering remnant of
grace, some vague human shrinking
from the crime that has begun to form
itself within his busy brain, that now
induces Dynec0urt to try to dissuade Sir
Adrian from his declared intention to
search the haunted chamber for the
lost bangle? With all his eloquence he
seeks to convince him that there the
bangle could not have been left, but to
no effect. His suggestion has taken
firm root in Sir Adrian s mind, and at
least, as he frankly says, though it may
be useless to hunt for it III that uncan-
ny chamber, it is worth a try. 1t may
be there. This dim possibility drives
him to his fate.
well, if you go alone and unprotect-
ed your blood be on your own head"
says Dynecourt lightly, at last surren-
dering his position. Remember, what
ever happens, I advised you not to col"
As Arthur finishes his speech a SIMS
ter smile overspreads his pale features,
and q quick light, as evil as it is pierre
ing comes to his eyes. But Sir Adrian
sees nothing Of this. He is looking at
his home, as it stands grand and ma
jestic i'll the red light OF the dying sun.
He is looking, too, at the old tower,
and at the upper portion Of it, where
the haunted chamber stands. and
where he can see the narrow holes that
serve for windows. How little could a
man imprisoned there see of the busy
world without!
eyes, I'll remember" he says testing
II. when the ghosts of my ancestors
claim me as their victim, and incarcer-
ate me in some fiendish dungeon, I
shall remember your words and your
advice"
you don't mean to go there, of
cOurSe?" asks Arthur carelesSly, whilst
watching the other with eager scrutiny.
at is quite a journey to that dismal
hole, and it will be useless"
We'll, if it distresses you. consider
haven't gone" says Sir Adrian lightly
That is right" rejoins Arthur, still
with his keen eyes fixed upon his
cousin. L knew you would abandon
that foolish intention. [ certainly shall
consider you haven't gone"
They are at the hall door as these
words pass Arthur's lips, and there
they separate, Sir Adrian leaving him
with a smile, and going away up the
large hall Whistling gayly.
When he has turned one corner. Ar
thur goes quickly after him, not with
the intention Of oyertaking him, but of
keeping him in view. Stealthily he
follows, as though fearful of being
seen.
There is no servant within sight. No
friend comes across Sir Adrian5s path.
All is silent. The old house seems
wrapped in slumber. Above, the pref
ty guests in their dainty tea-gowns are